Jun 1, 2008

Despite no longer being an Umno member, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has no intentions of vacating his four government-appointed posts and prefers to be booted out.

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he will not quit as adviser to Proton and Petronas voluntarily, adding that he prefers to be kicked out.

“If they want to take away my positions, they are welcome, as I am not dependent on them and not even if they give me RM15,000 a month. I am not interested. So anytime they say get out, I will get out, no problem,” he said.

Earlier when asked if he would relinquish the positions, he said: “It may be an option, if I feel that I have to do so. But I'd prefer if they kicked me out.''

Dr Mahathir also suggested that Umno MPs form an independent group instead of crossing over to the Opposition if they were dissatisfied with the present leadership.

He said crossing over to the Opposition was wrong, as they would be subjected to opposition policies.

“By forming a separate group, say at least 35 of them, this will cause the Government to collapse and the current Prime Minister will have to resign.

“Then if PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tries to become the Prime Minister and if the votes go to him and then if Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak have the guts to step in, the 35 MPs can give their votes to him.

“When he (Najib) becomes the Prime Minister, Barisan Nasional remains in power, and it will be no loss to anyone except to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,” he told a press conference after his speech during a forum “Suntikan Semangat Satria” here yesterday.

The event was organised by NGOs known as Minda Melayu Kreatif, Kelab Cinta Amanah Melayu and Arena PJS14.

He was commenting on Anwar’s claims that certain MPs from Sabah were expected to “jump ship” by Sept 16.

On whether Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor was a Trojan horse for his former party PKR, Dr Mahathir said: “He may be that (Trojan horse) but what I do know is that Anwar is anxious to be supported by Umno and he may want to join Umno at some stage, if he can become the Prime Minister.”